Source: Sox, Lester haven't talked extension

Tue, 11/27/2012 - 12:36pm — Rob Bradford

According to an industry source, the Red Sox have not had any discussions with left-hander Jon Lester about a potential extension. Lester is entering the last season of a five-year, $30 million deal he signed at the start of the 2009 season. He is slated to earn $11.675 million in 2013, with the Sox holding a $13 million option on his services in 2014.

Lester, who turns 29 in January, is coming off a 9-14 season in which he had a career-worst 4.82 ERA in 205 1/3 innings. Towards the end of the season, the left-hander (the Opening Day starter for the Sox in the last two seasons) told WEEI.com that, while he did not expect to discuss an extension with the team, he would be open to doing so.

"I still got really a year before we kind of have to figure things out as far as an option or anything like that. Like I said, it's probably not something high on their list right now," Lester said on the last day of the season. "I'm always open to listening. We can always talk. That doesn't mean they're going to be close, or we're going to be close, or a deal is going to get done. I'm always open to seeing where we're at. I'm fine with that. I would be fine with trying to work something out. If we had a better year and didn't have so many needs, especially with me being under control for the next two years, that's not something that's a priority. We have other holes we have to fill first."

A major league source said that the Red Sox and Royals have discussed a possible deal that would send Lester to Kansas City in exchange for top prospect Wil Myers (with additional players going in both directions), though for now, no deal appears close.